Didn't Shaukat Aziz once actually seriously hit on Condi Rice? Comparitively, there isn't very much inappropriate in what Zardari (that old dog) said to Palin.

I find use of the slur "vice-MILF much more offensive.

First there is nothing wrong in Pakistani President's conduct.

If the French President does it, then it is chivalrous, and "French".

If a Brown man does it, then it is not adhering protocol, come on.

When did John F. Kennedey adhered to any protocol?

Now to Sherry Rehman, woman compliment other woman all the time.

Didn't Shaukat Aziz once actually seriously hit on Condi Rice? Comparitively, there isn't very much inappropriate in what Zardari (that old dog) said to Palin.

There was also a rumor that Condi Rice and Canadian Foreign Minister had dates.....and everyone was going ga ga

1 · goenkar said

Didn't Shaukat Aziz once actually seriously hit on Condi Rice?

Sharon couldn't stop staring at her legs

With Palin, Yulia Tymoshenko, and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, there's definitely an epidemic going on. Back in the day it was only Bhutto.

I'm still trying to figure out why people think Sarah Palin is fine. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she looks good. Michelle Obama is 1000 times finer any day of the week.

2 · Kush Tandon said

If a Brown man does it, then it is not adhering protocol, come on.

Well, that Bush-Merkel shoulder rub down didn't go over too well. The rule is, if you make such a move, you must succeed; otherwise its dorkland for you. This may not sound fair but men who whine life isn't fair are dorks anyway.

6 · nation of islam said

I'm still trying to figure out why people think Sarah Palin is fine.

Personally, I'm bigger on a power suit than a bikini. other than that, great legs, good thick lips, and nice cheekbones.

8 · Manju said

other than that, great legs, good thick lips, and nice cheekbones.

But enough about me.

Quaddafi was underrated, but man, has he aged just like a rockstar (bad). Almost like Keith Richards long lost brother.

This Pakistani ABD thinks...

There is absolutely something wrong with the Pakistani President's behavior.

First of all, he is not French, he's the leader of a nation that is the birthchild of political Islam, so we have a right to take him to task for it.

His actions not only serve to underline the absolute hypocrisy with which women are treated within his nation, but they are indicative of the utter lack of respect he bears toward Ms. Palin. I seriously doubt that any eminent woman in Pakistan with whom he has me have been greeted with such slobbering. And I say with even more conviction, that any eminent woman in Pakistan would not have tolerated it for a moment.

Disgraceful.

The newly single Zardari is on the lookout...

To Kush Tandon @ 2: Seems to me that both Sarkozy and JFK have gotten considerable criticism regarding their treatment of women.

George Bush and Paul Keating have done worse...

2 · Kush Tandon said

First there is nothing wrong in Pakistani President's conduct.
If the French President does it, then it is chivalrous, and "French".

What I am particularly not happy is how many posters are on cnn are turning this against her. Zardari needs to grow up and show some professionalism. Too bad, she did not show her barracuda teeth.

6 · nation of islam said

I'm still trying to figure out why people think Sarah Palin is fine.

It has more to do with her "What? You want a piece of me?" Scrappy Doo attitude and the way she carries herself than her looks. She's got a brash, sassy, confident swagger ("Who wants to play stump the candidate? Lay it me!")--totally hawt. And her glasses make her look smart (even if she's not), so she's (apparently) got two qualities that make some of us swoon--confidence and brains (err, glasses).

7 · Manju said

Well, that Bush-Merkel shoulder rub down didn't go over too well. The rule is, if you make such a move, you must succeed; otherwise its dorkland for you.

Word. It might be dorky and sleazy, and definitely comparable to Bush-Merkel, but I'm really trying to be offended and just failing.

2 · Kush Tandon said

When did John F. Kennedey adhered to any protocol?

i chased tail with jack kennedy, i jacked kennedy, kennedy was a friend of mine. and zardari, sir, is no kennedy.

11 · Faiqa said

but they are indicative of the utter lack of respect he bears toward Ms. Palin.

him and 60 million sexist americans.

This post's title is inappropriate. It should have been this

Wonder what Todd Palin thought of this strange conversation.

Now you guys need a new "Sepia Mack Daddy" banner...

If the French President does it, then it is chivalrous, and "French".

No one is as chivalrous as the Italians.

The left has no taste in women anyways.

Just watched the video. Zardari is waay too creepy. Palin handled it very well (with just the faintest look of disgust--discernable only to the disgusted). I think with these kind of diplomatic skills, she'll make a fine politician. Anyway, Palin just earned her first tiny crumb of a brownie point from me. Still voting for Obama if I get my oversees ballot on time.

Kush Tandon @#2

If a Brown man does it, then it is not adhering protocol, come on.
When did John F. Kennedey adhered to any protocol?

16 · Harbeer said

6 · nation of islam said

I'm still trying to figure out why people think Sarah Palin is fine.

It has more to do with her "What? You want a piece of me?" Scrappy Doo attitude and the way she carries herself than her looks. She's got a brash, sassy, confident swagger ("Who wants to play stump the candidate? Lay it me!")--totally hawt. And her glasses make her look smart (even if she's not), so she's (apparently) got two qualities that make some of us swoon--confidence and brains (err, glasses).

7 · Manju said

Well, that Bush-Merkel shoulder rub down didn't go over too well. The rule is, if you make such a move, you must succeed; otherwise its dorkland for you.

Word. It might be dorky and sleazy, and definitely comparable to Bush-Merkel, but I'm really trying to be offended and just failing.

for a full and scary account of her sax appeal, look to a Rawlsetarian from the midwest for the answers.

Let's not all forget that Palin is accustomed to having swarthy men lay hands on her. I believe Zardari was the buddha-worshipping practitioner of witchcraft against which pastor Muthee so presciently warded Palin. It's curious Muthee didn't pick up on the all the grease and false bonhomie that Zardari seems to perpetually exude.

a slap would have been great. the image alone could destroy a political figure from a patriarchal society.

Zardari doesn't look like he is mourning Benazir at all! How galling :(

It looks like Mr.Zardari is pretty insistent on hugging people...He wanted to hug PM Manmohan Singh as well! Maybe he thinks that by hugging everybody, he can make all of Pakistan's problems go away. :) Seriously though, I am not too sure if I would call him 'sleazy' based on his meeting with Palin...but that's my opinion.

Not particularly sleazy, but certainly not impressive, and also unbecoming of a leader. Looks like he cannot stay composed in the presence of women, which bodes badly for him if he ever has to negotiate with one.

Well, besides her looks and her way with a dead moose, what else is there to compliment about Sarah Palin? Certainly not her Katie Couric-answering skills, knowledge of McCain's record or concern for rape victims.

Maybe Zardari watches too much Entourage.

First of all, he is not French, he's the leader of a nation that is the birthchild of political Islam, so we have a right to take him to task for it.

Umm, Pakistan needs to take him to task for a lot bigger things and it will be better served focusing on those things. For example, Zardari has been known to have said when asked how he plans to keep funding subsidies for farmers in Punjab that he will print more notes!! Small wonder the economy of Pakistan is such a mess.

Ennis had a post on Pakistani Foreign Minister Shaukut Aziz's belief that he is God's gift to women.

Ennis had another post on the unbelievable hotness of Pakistani men -- Diana and Hasnat Khan, Imran and Jemima, Britney and Adnan.

So, on these 3 posts, we have a unified Sepia theory of Pak Male Hotness -- "All Pakistani men think they are irresistable. Some are deluding themselves."

Of all the dignitaries with whom Palin was supposed to meet, there is footage of all the meetings except with PM Manmohan Singh. Did she actually meet him or did he get off lightly? It was an "interesting" assortment of leaders she was scheduled to meet and India seemed the odd man out of the bunch.

Well, besides her looks and her way with a dead moose,

With Palin, Yulia Tymoshenko, and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, there's definitely an epidemic going on. Back in the day it was only Bhutto.

from the National Post. the font of all politicl knowledge, the maxim magazine recently anointed the hottest political babes world wide. you vill be proud to know a certain brown mp from brampton made it to #3.

2 · Kush Tandon said

First there is nothing wrong in Pakistani President's conduct

I thought that feminists don't like to be complimented for their looks since its devalues (or places more premium on appearances than ) other aspects of their personality/work etc. But I have also seen this rule being violated a lot in media/movies. So maybe some feminists of SM can clarify ?

This whole thing is an example of how 'controlled photo-ops' and 'managed media profiles' can go out of hand. Remember that the McCain campaign has tried its best to shield Palin from reporters and serious questioning. It tried to do the same with her meetings with 'world leaders', except that the media protested, so it relented to allow this non-access.

On the other hand, Pakistan is trying to 'get a good press' for Zardari. Normally there isn't a live mike at a photo-op, often even video cameras are not allowed - still pictures only.

These two things conspired. Palin's handlers thought a live mike plus video at the Zardari 'photo-op' would get them off the media hook for blocking substantive acces to Palin. Zardari's thought of this 'media op' as a way to satiate the enormous appetite now arisen in Pakistan for media feeds, substantive or trivial.

Combined with Zardari's flubbed ad-libs, the knives that are out for him in Pakistan and within the Pakistani media, the widespread availability of video editing software, and the youtube phenomenon - we have this. The perception of the event has become more the news than the event itself. As ever, we are always ready to believe in the 'desi sleazy uncle', whatever be the facts, oblivious to how even a 'live video feed' can combine with pre-existing prejudices to shape the perception of the event. This thing will play on on and on in Pakistan, cut, edited, interspersed with biting comment, decontextualized further to reveal only his grin, or only his 'leer'. It will be a staple of Pakistani political humor shows (like the Pakistani SNL - Hum sab Ummeed say hain) for the next number of years. The whole thing is an example of an 'unconspired' conspiracy, or how things conspire all by themselves. The whole thing looks bad enough in a 'secular, Western' setting, the faux outrage this will raise in an Islamic setting will be a thing unto itself.

I myself posted the video on ultrabrown last night - I was stunned to actually find it on youtube, all edited nicely to fit into a 30 second clip, sitting right there, barely a few hours after the event. By contrast, there is almost no video clip of Manmohan Singh meeting Palin, which I spent a lot of time also looking for! His handlers probably only let in still photographers, somehow one of them was in the Getty pool, so we have a record of the event. So he goes home looking like he 'tutored' Palin on India, the scholar-Prime Minister he, and Indian media get to make 'sophisticated' puns ('Palin-drome') about the event.

Media management is a fine art, one can certainly get it right by chance, and wrong by being too clever by half.

Kush, it was pretty smarmy, no matter what/whom you compare it to. She has few defenses, though, and that was clear as well.

Or perhaps too much Munna Bhai?.

29 · Ari said

Maybe Zardari watches too much Entourage.

What is yuck-pervy is that Zardari obviously thought it was his prerogative to "hug" if he felt like it-- and who knows what hugging covers, in his mind? What will he do with Bristol's pregnancy?

39 · Amrita said

What is yuck-pervy is that Zardari obviously thought it was his prerogative to "hug" if he felt like it-

Well. Of course we'll read things into that 'offer'. But he hugged Manmohan Singh too. Twice. And he hugged Nawaz Sharif right after he gave his inaugural speech to the Pakistani Parliament last Saturday. I thought they were both fine gestures. As this one might well have been, if we didn't second-guess too much. But since we do, he was wise not to act on the offer.

As an aside, there is a semi-religious quality to the once-on-each-side hug that is widely prevalent throughout most of Southern Europe and the Middle East, both in Catholic and in Islamic-influenced cultures, as also in some South Asian cultures.

"By contrast, there is almost no video clip of Manmohan Singh meeting Palin, which I spent a lot of time also looking for! His handlers probably only let in still photographers, somehow one of them was in the Getty pool, so we have a record of the event. So he goes home looking like he 'tutored' Palin on India, the scholar-Prime Minister he, and Indian media get to make 'sophisticated' puns ('Palin-drome') about the event."

Well, better than looking like a cornered world leader in a pantomime. So there are photos of Palin with Singh. Surprisingly, and showing a modicum of good sense, the Indian media that I checked out put this bit of stage management behind other priorities like the nuclear deal and the global financial crisis. There's nothing wrong with him meeting her, but given that all the other leaders she met with have this reputation - warranted or unwarranted - of being "puppets", it's wise for the Indian media/Singh not to have given undue focus to this meeting.

30 · Ardy said

First of all, he is not French, he's the leader of a nation that is the birthchild of political Islam, so we have a right to take him to task for it.

Umm, Pakistan needs to take him to task for a lot bigger things and it will be better served focusing on those things. For example, Zardari has been known to have said when asked how he plans to keep funding subsidies for farmers in Punjab that he will print more notes!! Small wonder the economy of Pakistan is such a mess.

Absolutely right. But, since the post was about a leering Mr. Ten Percent, I chose not to digress. But, you seem to have done that for me. ::Smile::

well, now you will understand why no photogs were allowed when russia expert palin met putin...

36 · chachaji said

The perception of the event has become more the news than the event itself. As ever, we are always ready to believe in the 'desi sleazy uncle', whatever be the facts, oblivious to how even a 'live video feed' can combine with pre-existing prejudices to shape the perception of the event...The whole thing is an example of an 'unconspired' conspiracy, or how things conspire all by themselves.

Chachaji droppin science, ba-bam!

As much as I despise Zardari, this is trivial. The guy lost his wife a few months ago and he just took the opportunity to hit on a hot female politician. When you're an adult, these things happen.

There is absolutely something wrong with the Pakistani President's behavior

Of all the dignitaries with whom Palin was supposed to meet, there is footage of all the meetings except with PM Manmohan Singh. Did she actually meet him or did he get off lightly? It was an "interesting" assortment of leaders she was scheduled to meet and India seemed the odd man out of the bunch.

Waah -- A rogue SM Intern deleted a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek, comment about the unbridled masculinity of the Pakistani male. So funny that I bookmarked it. And now its gone.

Put it back, boys and girls. SMsters can take a joke...

"and Indian media get to make 'sophisticated' puns ('Palin-drome') about the event"

More like 'Palin-drone'. Everyone would sleep when mr.singh is speaking...zzz :)

Here is the short video of the Indian PM with Palin. (Definitely more measured and less controversial!)
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=39544

If you had a "mental xray machine" it would read this

Sarah Palin's mind - "which brown country is this again?"

Zardari's mind - "thank god this suit jacket is long enough to cover my boner"

Well, besides her looks and her way with a dead moose,

This is how Canadians have their vay with a moose.

Moose + Palin + 5 more clowns = this.

Remember that the McCain campaign has tried its best to shield Palin from reporters and serious questioning.

When the extent of your policy decision making is moose crap disposal then it makes sense.

Such protocols or standards shouldn’t just be adhered to by the leader of Pakistan, they should be expected of any leader, period.

heh heh. good ol' asif. spent several years in confinement, volatile temperament, and always being so unpredictable. he's my second favorite maverick.

clearly zardari's in the tank for mccain, knowing his behaviour will lead to PUMA sympathy for Palin. I suspect this is being done at the behest of bill clinton, who is now as close to openly endorsing mccain as one can be without actually doing it. probably he asked bono first, but he declined, worrying that mccain wouyld hurt his hedge fund.

49 · Marl Balou said

Here is the short video of the Indian PM with Palin.

Thank you! There is a clip after all, so they must have let in the video crews. But a no-live-mikes rule - or visuals-only rule - makes a big difference. Notice in the same clip that Zardari's interaction now appears relatively innocuous, when voiced over.

Ikram does have a point. i've seen many a woman fall faster for Pakistani men than Lehman shares on the NYSE. They don't get enough credit for this.

I thought that's against sharia law to hit on other women. haha.

So, I don't know how this is playing out in redland, but is McCain being seen, at least to some extent, as the gigantic douche that he's shown himself to be in the last couple of days? First cutting and running on the debate, and next, trampling all over whatever delicate consensus could be ironed out? Gee, I can't wait to see the narrative that will come out in the next day or three (it will probably have to be after Friday so he can weasel out of the debate, and schedule it in such a manner as to prevent the Palin-Biden debate from happening) about how this crazy, self-absorbed coot is the knight in shining armor who brought unity to Washington.

I don't know how this is playing out in redland

dont shoot until you can see the whites of their eyes

58 · mccain bailed out? said

So, I don't know how this is playing out in redland, but is McCain being seen, at least to some extent, as the gigantic douche that he's shown himself to be in the last couple of days? First cutting and running on the debate, and next, trampling all over whatever delicate consensus could be ironed out? Gee, I can't wait to see the narrative that will come out in the next day or three (it will probably have to be after Friday so he can weasel out of the debate, and schedule it in such a manner as to prevent the Palin-Biden debate from happening) about how this crazy, self-absorbed coot is the knight in shining armor who brought unity to Washington.

You are so freakin spot on with your observation that I can now myself "feel" the hype hope for change...Yea McCain is such a douche, fo shoz...Oh Man Oh Man SO EXCITING...I really really ridiculously hope that you won't be let down!!! But only three more days!!!...Gotta wait gotta wait!!!

Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub...Yay Obama! PBUH

Not making excuses for him...really, I'm not. But. I have seen older desi men do the same to women in positions of power, to show comraderie, etc. They just don't know how else to act. Once the woman deflects the small talk and moves to business talk, the men then snap back to the business-mode. I think its just that they don't really know how to make small talk. Cringe-worthy? Sure. But not creepy.

Chachaji, As always you have hot the nail on the head.

As for hugging business-
Here in the good ole US it’s quite common, at least in my circle. 8 out of 10 American women hug my husband when departing. Always initiated by them as you know he is a desi, he would be labeled pervert if he try to even shake their hands. I know it has lot to do with his looks and manners not his position. He is a younger Tom Selleck look alike. I'm cool with it since I know him well for over 20 years. But I don't like these double standards where women are allowed to tease men but when men even hint it they labeled sick. And don’t get me started on eastern and western values.

BTW, Zardari need to be coached more by some PR guy to get out of these situations more gracefully.

58 · mccain bailed out? said

So, I don't know how this is playing out in redland, but is McCain being seen, at least to some extent, as the gigantic douche that he's shown himself to be in the last couple of days? First cutting and running on the debate, and next, trampling all over whatever delicate consensus could be ironed out? Gee, I can't wait to see the narrative that will come out in the next day or three (it will probably have to be after Friday so he can weasel out of the debate, and schedule it in such a manner as to prevent the Palin-Biden debate from happening) about how this crazy, self-absorbed coot is the knight in shining armor who brought unity to Washington.

I think the South eats it up. Here's a man who is truly COUNTRY FIRST. A man who sees the big picture and knows what needs to be done! A man with vision! etc etc etc.

I'm ready for tonight. And so glad McCain decided he could show up after all.

I think there was nothing an inappropriate on Mr. Zardari's part. He is well-civilized person and know others' mores as well. Let him do wht the Romans do when in Rome. For God's sake, come out of conservative thinking....There is no harm in praise during greeting...

64 · Faik Ali said

I think there was nothing an inappropriate on Mr. Zardari's part. He is well-civilized person and know others' mores as well. Let him do wht the Romans do when in Rome. For God's sake, come out of conservative thinking....There is no harm in praise during greeting...

OK. I guess I don't know what civilized actually means. Whatever. And for all of you who are whining about the misrepresentation of Zardari's comments. You *did* hear that the first thing he said was, "You are so gorgeous" followed by "Now I know why America is so fond of/likes/whatever you." Even if it's true, it's still insulting IN THEORY to assume that Sarah Pallin's likeability is based solely on her looks.

You know, if I (a woman) were a foreign head of state and I thought Vlad Putin was a hottie, would I say, "Oh, Vad, you're so handsome, now I know why everyone in Russia puts up with your crap?"

And "do what the Romans do?!!" What is that supposed to mean, anyway? I sincerely doubt that Biden will be commenting on how "gorgeous" Palin is during their debate. Though, you never *do* know what's going to come out of that man's mouth...

And "do what the Romans do?!!" What is that supposed to mean, anyway?

Maybe he is referring to the other legendary thing caligula was famous for...

Well, at least he was more couth than the Prime Minister.

6 · nation of islam said

I'm still trying to figure out why people think Sarah Palin is fine. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she looks good. Michelle Obama is 1000 times finer any day of the week.

Agree with that.

Maybe in that patient-physiatrist way there would be an appeal. (I’ll let you guys decide whos is who). But when she starts talking she is hella ugly!

I'm still trying to figure out why people think Sarah Palin is fine. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she looks good. Michelle Obama is 1000 times finer any day of the week.

Yeah, I can't understand either why men are going ga ga over her or Michele - but Biden's wife - she's a beauty and a grandma.

This was so inappropriate for a country's leader - as it was with Kennedy or anyone else doing such things. But I've got a feeling this is pretty common - commenting on a women leader's looks by many male leaders - but Zardari was foolish enough to make comments like this where the press could record it; at least American presidents try and hide their sexism - lol.

PS, I grant that sexism certainly exists - and reflects itself in many unpleasant ways. But I think what a person looks like is not irrelevant to their entire persona, and this is even more true of politicians. In the old days, low resolution 'photowires' in gray scale printed on poor-quality 'newsprint' was all we had. But today's media has unprecedented reach, access, resolution, color, etc. Given this, it is silly to expect that a fellow politician (derided, in his own country by many, as an intellectual lightweight and playboy) would not comment on the other's visual appeal.

Zardari is guilty, if anything, of flubbing his lines. The point he seemed to have been making is that she is even more impressive in person than on TV (Instead, he said "in life".) As far as him 'now knowing why America is ga-ga over her', he's dead on. Also, neither seemed fully aware of the implications of a live mike, if they were in fact made aware of it - it is possible that their handlers screwed up, and let it in without either (or themselves) knowing.

Watch the clip without the sound actuality to 'see' what I mean. It looks innocuous enough.

The other thing to note is that video exposes the transparent fakery of the handshakes and artificial smiles completely. And it must have been a really conspiratorial handler who got them to do it twice, showing how completely devoid of spontaneity it can be. In the circs, I see Zardari's banter as an 'injection of levity', rather like the way Hank Paulson went down on bended knee before Nancy Pelosi.

Sarah Palin is not some feeble woman who can be twisted by evil man; she is running for second most important position in the world. If she didn't have any problem with it then why should others? Stop making something out of anything. I think it just tells us Sarah (next VP hopeful) and Asif (Civilian head of one of the most important country in current situation) were trying to look friendlier in public eye.

As long as our Civilian world leaders can solve matters on the table, I’m with them. West needs to clean up Afghanistan because they are the one who created this mess.

But I think what a person looks like is not irrelevant to their entire persona, and this is even more true of politicians.

I'd have to disagree with you. I really thought he was slimy. What you said above, yes, a person's looks can be a big influence in all aspects of life...but I do think, particularly in politics it can only take you so far. Look at some of the women politicians like Hilary or Pelosi - I actually think they are both good-looking women - but particularly Hillary, one of the most successful women politicans in history, is considered not attractive. Ferraro or Shirley Chisholm- I don't think they are considered that attractive either and they were successful in their own right.

I'm really stumped by Palin's "fans" calling her so attractive - it seems to be the first thing anybody thinks of when she came on board the Mccain campain. Does it reflect on her weak credentials? She has certainly gotten such a different treatment, by fellow politicans, at least in public, than Hillary. All gloves were off when it came to Hillary and maybe this is because, she was so powerful and smart.

The point is though, as a country's leader, it's inappropriate to be making such comments about her looks - The fact that the live mike, caught this doesn't make it less so and yes, it can be an indication that they weren't prepped for what publicly would be caught. Like I said, I'm sure some of our American male leaders, with their records in adultary and reputations for being a playboy, could have said things like this to other leaders, or women that they worked with, but the live mike didn't catch it, or they were aware it would be inappropriate and look completely unprofessional to say this. And I don't think American was going "ga-ga" - I think some Repubs desperate for some attention were going ga-ga and we know that's about half the population.

I guess you are viewing this a different way, b/c you think there is a stereotype about slimy desi uncles? - but I don't think that is my issue - as a women, who works, you often get slimy inappropriate comments made your way, and it can be awkward or infuriating - so far it hasn't been desis that I experienced that have made inappropriate comments my way, so I don't think I'm likely to stereotype. slimy or inappropriate is the same whatever the person's background.

73 · PS said

The point is though, as a country's leader, it's inappropriate to be making such comments about her look

don't knock him, he's just following the lead of republican opinion leaders: RUSH: She's not going to remind anybody of their ex-wife, she's going to remind men, "Gee, I wish she was single."

74 · hot momma said

73 · PS said

The point is though, as a country's leader, it's inappropriate to be making such comments about her look

don't knock him, he's just following the lead of republican opinion leaders: RUSH: She's not going to remind anybody of their ex-wife, she's going to remind men, "Gee, I wish she was single."

Why am I not surprised :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHHcf6ZNVM8

i love geo's take on this nasty mess. at least you can sing along. he's really mourning benazir. greasy fool.

70 · chachaji said

PS, I grant that sexism certainly exists - and reflects itself in many unpleasant ways. But I think what a person looks like is not irrelevant to their entire persona, and this is even more true of politicians. In the old days, low resolution 'photowires' in gray scale printed on poor-quality 'newsprint' was all we had. But today's media has unprecedented reach, access, resolution, color, etc. Given this, it is silly to expect that a fellow politician (derided, in his own country by many, as an intellectual lightweight and playboy) would not comment on the other's visual appeal.

Zardari is guilty, if anything, of flubbing his lines. The point he seemed to have been making is that she is even more impressive in person than on TV (Instead, he said "in life".) As far as him 'now knowing why America is ga-ga over her', he's dead on. Also, neither seemed fully aware of the implications of a live mike, if they were in fact made aware of it - it is possible that their handlers screwed up, and let it in without either (or themselves) knowing.

Watch the clip without the sound actuality to 'see' what I mean. It looks innocuous enough.

The other thing to note is that video exposes the transparent fakery of the handshakes and artificial smiles completely. And it must have been a really conspiratorial handler who got them to do it twice, showing how completely devoid of spontaneity it can be. In the circs, I see Zardari's banter as an 'injection of levity', rather like the way Hank Paulson went down on bended knee before Nancy Pelosi.

Chachaji,

since you're sifting through the fine details here, how long did these meetings last? Did Zardari really have to fill up dead time or could he have simply said, "hi, how are you, that's great, goodbye." And will he come off looking like anything less than the Heartlanders' nightmare dinner guest (Not, "guess who's coming to dinner" but "dread who is coming to dinner!")? Intentions are irrelevant in the anecdotal exchanges that form real world arguments, I just resent the fact that the people I work with (i.e. patrons of such fair and balanced sites like HotAir, AceofSpades, Little Green Footballs, etc.) are seeing the xenophobic flip-side of what everyone who commented here saw initially, a creepy greasy furriner itching to paw a white woman.

*One of my pet peeves used to be the lazy and inaccurate substitution of “in” for “at”, when it came to the title of that now defunct series which became an awful movie. AND. AND. It was always AND, damn it.

OMG yes! totally my pet peeve too...i used to work with this old lady called gena at a books/dvd/cd store (kind of like borders, but called whitcoulls in nz) who fully insisted that it was 'sex in the city...cos that's where they do it! in the city!' to a customer and dismissed my satc knowledge.

it's ALWAYS BEEN AND! really people.

i love gena but it's hard to forgive her for that little moment of wrongness.

76 · Nayagan said

Chachaji,

since you're sifting through the fine details here, how long did these meetings last?

Nayagan, since you're willing to grant that there might be a reality other than the one you and other commenters perceived through that video clip - or at least, I think you seem to, based on your comment - then really, all else is moot. Let's just go forth and say, this is how it looks to me, so this is how it must have been.

Still, since you asked a question: I believe it was a half-hour meeting. And to keep this comment interesting, of course, Zardari could have done anything. He could, for example, have pretended he was meeting a lady dropping in from Victorian England, and greeted her with a slight bow, delicately taking her fingers in his, as if she were a delicate piece of china. No handshake that. Which is what Manmohan Singh pretty much did. And he needn't have said anything whatever. Or he could have mumbled something while blushing for all the world to see. Then the media and the chatterati could have fun asking whether his lips actually moved during the interaction. (With Manmohan Singh, this is exactly what they did.)

But Zardari's is an effusive personality. You should have seen him rushing off to the Visitor's Gallery to hug Nawaz Sharif, his political archrival and on-again off-again ally, the minute he finished his inaugural Parliament speech, with his entourage running after him, trying to keep up.

Etiquette and protocol place some demands on behavior, but not to the point of having to let all spontaneity and effusiveness and fun out of even high-level political interactions. Since most of these go unrecorded aurally, this is pure speculation, but trying to get each other to smile artificially is hard without some casual banter. Granted, it won't meet stand-up comic standards of timing and content, especially after the fact. There must be thousands of such pieces of failed attempts at humor lost to history. This one made it in.

All that said, the big story here is how a Republican Administration managed to get the party's nominee for VP to meet 3 South Asian Heads of State/Government so that she could now claim that fact. (Remember Charlie Gibson had actually asked her that.) She dropped Zardari's name the first chance she got, in her (follow-up) interview with Katie Couric.

78 · chachaji said

76 · Nayagan said

Chachaji,

since you're sifting through the fine details here, how long did these meetings last?

Nayagan, since you're willing to grant that there might be a reality other than the one you and other commenters perceived through that video clip - or at least, I think you seem to, based on your comment - then really, all else is moot. Let's just go forth and say, this is how it looks to me, so this is how it must have been.

-how does a brown person blush? I guess i just don't get his meta-meta-humor. I will admit my extreme dislike for scions of political dynasties/tribes spilled over onto zardari. anyhow, i do understand what you are saying and did not expect him to bring her a corset wrapped in a bow.

anna & tash:

but "in" always made more sense. that is where they did it, right?